To Infinity And Beyond: An Empirical Analysis of Instructional Communication Immediacy Among ERAU Online Learners

The purpose of this study is to examine how communication relates to online education. In particular, the study investigates motivation and attitudes toward online learning. Further, it differentiates military versus civilian students. An online survey method was employed and launched throughout fall 2009 term. Three institutions with dominant military student enrollment participated. These universities are not-for-profit and regionally accredited, have brick and mortar main campuses, and well-established online undergraduate and graduate programs. Conducted within the theoretical framework of communication immediacy and self-efficacy, results (n=497) demonstrate that motivation (intrinsic, extrinsic and task-value) and attitudes toward online education (satisfaction and self-efficacy) are significantly related to communication immediacy between instructors and students. Recommendations for online educators are suggested and future studies are proposed